Dallas Cowboys fans will probably agree that it's going to take a miracle to make the NFL playoffs. With a wild-card berth looking like a pipe dream, their best chance is to take the NFC East from the Philadelphia Eagles. For that to happen, they need to win out and hope Philly loses two more games.
The chances are slim, but longtime Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. made an interesting point about the team's future should it come up short in their playoff push.
"I think there is something that they are building...Especially if they get to 10 wins...I think they can build something there. "Clarence Hill Jr.
The Cowboys have a chance to get in, but even if they don't, they have a lot of momentum to build from. They already have an offense that can go toe-to-toe with any team. Even more important than that is the culture Brian Schottenheimer is cultivating.
Can an NFL team build culture without winning?@clarencehilljr | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/3IH7MeVqCy
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) December 11, 2025
Cowboys are building a strong culture with or without a playoff run
Hill also said that the Cowboys are building their culture by rallying to win three straight games following the Marshawn Kneeland tragedy. It is impossible to put into words how difficult that must've been for the locker room. It takes a tight-knit culture to push through that.
Back in July, this wasn't the team that fans expected, but the truth is, a lot has happened since then. Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers weeks before the start of the season. In turn, the defense got off to a historically bad start before Quinnen Williams arrived via trade and helped steady the ship.
America's Team might end up disappointing fans this season by not making the playoffs. But fans should also remember that this is Schottenheimer's first year as a head coach. If nothing else, we've learned that Schottenheimer is the right man for the job. His energy and consistency in holding players accountable are a refreshing change of pace following the Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy eras.
Beyond that, Dak Prescott is still capable of playing at an MVP level. The George Pickens trade was a slam dunk, and the defense has shown signs of playing at a high level with Williams. It will take nailing the draft and free agency to put them over the top, but there's no reason to think that the Cowboys won't be a true contender in 2026 and 2027.